Health Care Reform Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow The Nursing Perspective ANA s Belief Quality, affordable health care is not a privilege, but a basic human right. ANA s Four Pillars of Health Care Reform 1
ANA Health System Reform Agenda Access health care services must be: Affordable Available Acceptable. ANA Health System Reform Agenda Quality Aims health care must be: Safe Effective Patient centered Timely Efficient Equitable ANA Health System Reform Agenda Cost of care strike a balance between: High technology treatments and Community based and preventive services. 2
ANA Health System Reform Agenda Workforce there must be an adequate supply of: Well educated Well distributed Well utilized REGISTERED NURSES We in America do not have government by the majority. We have government by the majority who participate. Thomas Jefferson 3
The Affordable Care Act The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act was signed into law on March 23, 2010. ACA What s Already in Effect Children with Pre Existing Conditions Cannot be denied coverage New Plans Grandfathered group plans Up to age 19 Adults with Pre Existing Conditions No discrimination, beginning 2014 ACA What s Already in Effect Coverage for Young Adults All parent health plans which cover children must make available until age 26. Includes married adult children. Tax Credit For Small Businesses/Nonprofits 35/25 percent of employers contribution to coverage for employees 4
ACA What s Already in Effect Ending rescission of insurance coverage Insurers can no longer end health insurance when someone gets sick. No more Lifetime or Annual limits to insurance coverage Health plans can no longer impose lifetime or annual limits on benefits. ACA What s Already in Effect Help with the Medicare Donut Hole $250 rebate checks for Part D beneficiaries Donut hole currently $2,830 to $6,440 50 percent discount brand name drugs Increasing discounts generic drugs Donut hole closes completely by 2020 ACA What s Already in Effect Wellness Visits Medicare now offers one annual wellness visit, at no charge. Preventive Health Services All new health plans & all Medicare plans must cover certain preventive services at no charge. 5
ACA Major Changes to Come 2014: State Health Insurance Exchanges State, regional, federally run 2014: Individuals & Employers of 50 100 workers 2017: Employers of over 100 workers Certify & offer private, cooperative plans Inform consumers & Medicaid/CHIP eligible $6 Billion Consumer Operated & Oriented Plans ACA Major Changes to Come 2014: Expanding Medicaid Eligibility To 133% of poverty level (non elderly). Cover 40% of uninsured / 12 million people. Projected cost to States: $20 billion / 10 years. 2014 2019 costs: MD: $338 Million PA: $468 Million WV: $118 Million ACA Major Changes to Come 2014: Individual Mandate US citizens must have health insurance coverage or pay a fine: $95 in 2014 $325 in 2015 $695 in 2016 Caps: Individuals 2.5% of AGI; Families $2,250 Fine is ½ for children 6
ACA Major Changes to Come 2014: Fines for Businesses Not offering health insurance for employees $2,000 or $3,000 per employee 2018: Taxes on Cadillac Plans Taxes on employer plans costing over $27,500/family or $10,200/individual ACA & Nursing Practice The Affordable Care Act supports a larger role for RNs & APRNs in our health care delivery system, through Education Reimbursement New Models of Care New Patient Services Quality Assurance ACA & Nursing Education ACA Supports Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs: Loan repayment and scholarship programs Nurse faculty programs 7
ACA & Nursing Education ACA Supports: Nursing Student Loan Program Nurse Loan Repayment and Scholarship Programs Advanced Education Nursing Midwifery Programs ACA & Nursing Education ACA Supports: Nurse Education, Practice, & Quality Grants HHS grants for nursing career advancement HHS awards for enhanced collaboration & communication ACA & Nursing Education ACA Supports: Nurse Faculty Loan Program Increase from $30,000 to $35,000/year $10,000 $20,000/year for MSN/PhD faculty members Nursing Workforce Diversity Grants Expanded to include RN to BSN, accelerated programs 8
ACA & Nursing Education Graduate Nursing Education (GNE) for APRNs $50 Million/year for FY 2012 2015 Medicare GNE Demonstration Program NPs, CNSs, CRNAs, CNMs Hospitals partner with nursing schools, community health ACA & Nursing Education Other Educational Support: Pediatric Health Care Workforce Public Health Workforce Loan Repayment Allied Health Loan Forgiveness Mid career public & allied health scholarships Direct (Chronic/Long Term)Care Workers Geriatric Nursing Career Incentives ACA & Nursing Education For More Information Visit HRSA Website www.hrsa.gov www.rnaction.org/healthcare 9
Nurse Midwife Reimbursement Certified Nurse Midwives Enrolled as Medicare providers/bill directly Were reimbursed at 65% of physician rate Beginning January 2011, receive 100% of physician rate CRNAs receive 100% no change NPs & CNSs still receive 85% no change Primary Care Bonuses Primary Care Practitioners In Health Professional Shortage Areas Including Nurse Practitioners & Clinical Nurse Specialists Receive 10 percent bonus Added to Medicare reimbursement FY 2011 2016 Nurse Managed Health Centers $50 million in grants for NMHCs that: Provide primary care or wellness services Care for underserved or vulnerable populations Are associated with: Academic department of nursing Qualified health center Independent nonprofit health/social services agency 10
School Based Health Centers Two new grant programs: $50 million/year (FY 2010 13) to construct & equip new Centers Priority many Medicaid eligible children Funding for existing Centers Priority Primary care shortage areas, many uninsured children Nurse Home Visitation Services Evidence based nurse home visitation programs Established by states after needs assessment Serve maternal, infant, early childhood Priority to supporting high risk populations Federal grant support Independence at Home Supports home based primary care teams Led by Nurse Practitioners and/or Physicians Serve chronically ill Medicare patients Incentives for lowering costs Priority for: High cost locales Experience with home health HIT & Individual care plans 11
National Health & Public Health Service Corps Several ACA provisions enhance primary care provided under the National Health Service Corps Includes APRNs who participate ACA Panels & Nurse Members Almost 150 new national advisory panels, including Medicare Independent Payment Advisory Board Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute Debra Barksdale, PhD, RN PCORI member Robin Newhouse, PhD, RN Member, Methodology Committee National Health Workforce Committee Peter Buerhaus, PhD, RN Chairperson New Models of Care Accountable Care Organizations Medicare shared savings program Hospitals, providers form ACO to manage $ coordinate care for Medicare patients Must meet quality performance standards, financial benchmark Payments based on cost savings Must include primary care professionals including Nurse Practitioners & CNSs 12
New Models of Care Medicaid/CHIP Pediatric ACOs Demonstration project State Medicaid/CHIP beneficiaries Incentive payments for Achieving savings target Meeting performance standards New Models of Care Medicare Medical Homes HHS grant program to States Establish community based, interdisciplinary health teams Support primary care practices Nurses & Nurse Practitioners specifically included in health teams New Models of Care Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation Newly created, to examine & develop innovative ways to improve care & cut costs Community Based Care Transitions Program To reduce recidivism, readmissions Based on research of Nursing Interventions that manage transition from hospital, etc. to home 13
New Models of Care Health Care Innovation Zones Planning grants for teaching hospitals, etc. To address increasing costs Provider collaboration to offer full spectrum of care, share data ACA & Quality of Care Decreasing Hospital Readmissions Hospital readmissions reduction program decrease payments to hospitals with readmissions and requires public reporting of readmission rates. Community based care transition development of transition programs to decrease readmissions. ACA & Quality of Care Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute Comparative Effectiveness Research (CER) Prevention, diagnosis, treatment, monitoring & management of health conditions AHRQ issues findings, relate to coverage decisions Center for Quality Improvement & Patient Safety Best practices identification & assistance Quality Improvement Network Research Program 14
Divided Government 2010 Elections Executive Branch White House, Federal Agencies, Etc. Legislative Branch SPLIT! Political Landscape in Washington, DC MAJOR SHAKE UP!! Republicans now control House of Representatives (R 242, D, 193) Democrats still control Senate D 51, R 47, I 2 Lieberman (D) Sanders (I) Political Landscape in Washington, DC MOC Different Priorities Passing legislation will be????? in the 112 th Congress. 15
Double the Nurses in the House Karen Bass (D CA) Diane Black (R TN) Ann Marie Buerkle (R NY) Renee Ellmers (R NC) Returning nurses: Reps. Capps (D CA), Johnson (D TX), McCarthy (D NY) 112 th Congress & ACA Efforts to repeal ACA Hearings on ACA Defunding parts of ACA State Responses Introduction of state laws reversing the insurance coverage mandate (more than 39 states; 3 enacted VA, ID & UT) State AG Filed lawsuits challenging the constitutionality. Ballot questions during November elections 16
State Challenges to ACA 26 State lawsuits challenge ACA constitutionality mostly individual mandate Most States simultaneously following ACA provisions, receiving ACA funding Upheld in all but 2 federal court decisions Supreme Court will have to decide What Health Care Reform Means for the States We need an infusion of nurses at the table! 2011 Nursing s Next Steps With HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebellius (center), November 2010 17
The Regulatory Process an Uphill Battle We must be vigilant about how the law is implemented ACA Regulations Agencies implement & interpret laws through formal rule making, other actions. Proposed & final rules are published in Federal Register, with opportunity for comments. Final rules become part of the Code of Federal Regulations & have the force of law. ACA Regulations Many provisions in ACA are not effective until regulations are prepared & adopted. Many notices of proposed rulemaking have been issued since ACA signed into law. Process is moving quickly. Main agencies: HHS, CMS, IRS. 18
ACA Resources www.healthcare.gov A federal government Website managed by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. www.healthcareandyou.org www.rnaction.org Educate consumers and patients about how the new law will impact them. Get involved. Serve on a state task force or committee that will shape reform at the state level. Keep the pressure on legislators when there are attempts to de fund health care reform. 19
Nurses Make a Difference Never doubt that a group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. Margaret Mead If you leave this session with anything, leave with a commitment to protect your livelihood as a nurse. Because if you won t, who else will? 20
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